The development of an index for the proximal upper extremity

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Abstract

Analysis techniques specific to the proximal upper extremity have historically
been overlooked in the field of ergonomics. This research effort provides a methodology
that will allow the ergonomics practitioner to analyze a job and predict whether or not
that job exposes workers to increased risk of proximal upper extremity disorders.
Literature from the fields of physiology, biomechanics, and epidemiology was
assimilated in order to understand the theories of pathogenesis of disorders in the rotator
cuff and to identify the risk factors associated with proximal upper extremity disorders. A
retrospective epidemiological study was conducted to identify job task variables that may
contribute to the occurrence of proximal upper extremity disorders. Two proximal upper
extremity constructs were proposed: a fatigue-based model and a compressive load-based
model. The constructs incorporated lessons learned from the literature and results from
the epidemiological study. Validation of the models was performed using data from the
epidemiological study. It was determined that the fatigue-based model was a good
predictor of proximal upper extremity disorders.